Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1887-09-01
Disgrdceful.

gina, some OF the IOSto Oh the VI. y. ~
refused to march under banner suspended
across the street from the Register Office,
whereon was G. yol portrait of the Presi
dent of the United States. These men were
mainly from Pennsylvania and Ohio, and
it is pretty s'-angly intimated that they
were by no means Veterans in the true
sense Of the n, but mostly three
months men," bammers and camp-follow-
ers. The "Union Veteran Legion" of
Pittsburg- men who were old soldiers, re-
buked the disgraceful partizan demonstra-
ton by saluting the Presidents portrait
So did Ex-President Hayes. OF course the
citizens of Wheeling, who had been so law
ish of their hospitality and courtesies, were
indignant at the unseemly and disgraceful
exhibition of partizan littleness of little
politicians who, under garb of soldiers, par
took of their good cheer for several days.
The Register characterizes it in strong
terms.
At night there was miscellaneous gath
ering, speeches were made and the affair
took a disgraceful political turn. Wequote
from the Register:
AT $50 last night the Union Veteran
Legion, of Pittsburg, headed by their band,
assembled in front of the Mcclure House,
and speeches were called for from the vari-
Gus dignitaries present. Gen. James Bea-
yer. of Pennsylvania, was introduced, and
made short address TO the veterans stating
his pleasure at being present and his regrets
that he had not been able to participate
more fully in the exercises of the Reunion.
Governor Foraker, Of Ohio, was called for
aud spoke at length. Among other things,
he said that the cause of constitutional lib
erty was the cause of the whole world.
The battle for it was going on all over the
earth. DOwE-trodden Ireland was now
fighting the battle against the forces OF OPP
preston That cause the veterans of 1861
had striven for, for that cause they battled
and in it they triumphed
Governor Wilson Of West Virginia was
called for and responded. The Governor
expressed his pleasure at being present and
said the war had been over twenty years.
The issues and questions that agitated the
country then shall agitate it no more. 1t
is time to forget the past and turn with new
hope and brave hearts to new and better
future. The South desire to forget them.
She asks only to remain in the Union &C.
mented by the blood of a common ancestry.
ga Voice were the Contederates trait
ors I? have been asked by some one at
nv side were the Coniederates traitors In
reply have only to say the man who asks
that question at this day and on this occa-
sion is lacking patriotism and Is inspired
bv the same sentiments as once moved the
destruction Of this union. He is the man
who would keep sectionalism alive and fat
ten upon sectional hate. Cheers The
day is past for anything of the kind to sue
ceed. This country is grandly united.
Let il remain so forever.
"Comrade Harper greeted the Society in
the name of the c. A. II. of Pennsylvania
Thus far all had moved smoothly accord
ing TO the programme of the bosses who
had gotten up the little meeting in order to
retrieve the insult offered the President by
the marching ba,,dlions during the day
But the partisan bitterness could not be
suppressed General Gibson, the next
speaker. took occasion to reflect upon Gov
ernor Wilson. saving that a speaker asked
them to bury the war and Its results in OBJ
livion. He was going to have the people
remember that the North was eternally
right and the South eternally wrong. lie
said that an insult had been offered to the
c.. A. Il. by asking them to march under
FLAG bearing the Presidents picture. He
could endorse the sentiment God bless the
President of the United States. Grover
Cleveland needed much blessing.
General Hays, of the Union Veteran
Legion, felt called upon to apologize for
marching under the flag. He thought he
bad fallen from grace by that act, and was
anxious 10 be restored. He said he re-
spected that picture not rs the picture OF
man or a Democrat but as that Of the Pres
ident of the United States. II the Grand
Army could not respect Cleveland as man
or rs a friend to the soldier, they should
pray God bless him and make him fit
Executive Of the great nation. The worthy
General having thus freed his garments
from faint, sat down.
"West Virginia's own old relic, Gov. Pier
pont, was trot;ed out by the managers to
say that he made speeches from that very
platform twenty.siX years age, and what
sacrifices he and others of the salt OF the
earth had made for the Union, and how the
preservation of that Union was due to them,
and the people should get down on their
knees and thank them for the service.
ct seemed here is if the great political
mon partisan" blow out would blow out
and nothing more be heard fIom the men
who are delighted in strictly, friendly and
fraternal reunions in which politician
would not dare to raise his head. But the
gallant Foraker, the battle flag statesman
of fragrant memory was called back by the
bowling crowd on the outside. This noble
warrior and precOcious youth who put down
the rebellion practically alone and single
handed at the early age Of nineteen was
ready. He had heard the speeches and was
much pleased with them all but must take
exception TO some of the things said by
Gov. Wilson. The war was over, but IT
must be remembered as had been said by
his friend Gibson that the North was thor
oughly and eternally right, the South was
and damnably wrong Cheers.
Ii would be time to talk about forgetting
the war when its results were safe and
free ballot and fair count were secured to
every man who owed allegiance to the stars
and stripes Cheers. The immortal Jo-
seph had a great deal to say about the
bloody shirt, the shot gun policy and much
more in the same strain. The mon parti-
sans on the outside cheered him to the echo.
When he finished loud cries went up for